2022 VW Taos: A solid baby bear SUV
Starting at $22,995 US, the All-new Brand-new Volkswagen Taos is the smallest, most compact SUV in the VW lineup – and it’s proving to be a reliable competitor in a very competitive, athletic field.
Driving it around town, it handles much like an agile small car: easy to maneuver in an out of traffic, easy to park … easy to forget unless you remember where you left it. This is a gem for those of you who are looking to buy new.
Combined mileage comes in at 28 mpg. The Taos, at every level, is a basic car, so if you are looking for refined luxury, even at the top-tier SEL trim (which starts at $31,490 US), you will get some refinement, but not the kind you seek if you want surf and turf and an oceanfront view.
This is a workhorse, but a nice, friendly workhorse. And a casual show pony during the day.
Interior room is considerable. There’s almost 28 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear. There’s 70 cubic feet when you fold down the rear seats. This is slightly less if you get the available All-Wheel Drive trim.
And for all you big-boned guys (and really, on this website, aren’t we all?) you should all fit in nicely – all four of you. I say that because all the reviews say “seats five” but, yeah, well – in a pinch, perhaps.
It’s a Volkswagen, so a turbocharged engine is a given. 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder, 158 horsepower, 184 pound-feet of torque – your standard, quite reliable VW engine.
Starting at the base S trim, you’ll get a 6.5-inch touchscreen, roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels. It also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrumentation display that can be adapted to your liking. Also, there are some other basic standard features that are ‘decent’.
I tested to midrange, midlevel and generally felt by most reviewers to be to trim that you should buy: the SE trim (did I say that correctly?).
But hey, if you can afford to go up to the SE trim, which starts at $27,245 US (which, admittedly, is a lot of money), you will get a lot more Taos for the money.
The SE trim comes with keyless entry, remote engine start, power and heated seats, and an 8-inch touchscreen. It also comes with simulated leather with cloth inserts, forward collision mitigation, blind spot monitoring, to name a few.
The 2022 VW Taos is the little engine that could. And does. It’s definitely worth your consideration.
There’s a lot to digest. We are starting 2022 with the wildest of weather and knowledge of the Greek letter Omicron.
Please let me know if there is anything car-wise that I may be able to help you digest.
